A friend recently told me about an experience her daughter recounted
upon her return from an Eastern Orthodox youth retreat. In response to a
question about violent video games, a priest shared the experience of
an Orthodox military chaplain who had served in one of our country’s
recent military actions overseas.
Given the fact that there were numerous chaplains available from
other Christian groups and very few Eastern Orthodox soldiers, it was a
surprise to learn how popular the Orthodox chaplain had been among the
soldiers stationed there.
These soldiers were gripped by the horror of taking human life, and
the Orthodox chaplain was the only one who met the men where they were
and affirmed that grief was an appropriate reaction for what they had
done. Though the soldiers were serving their country with honor, and
though they were not sinning to kill enemy combatants, the Orthodox
chaplain understood that taking another life still leaves a wound on the
soul.
By contrast, I am told that the other Christian chaplains were
content to merely assuage the soldiers by repeating they had done
nothing wrong, reminding them that they were doing their duty and
encouraging them not let be troubled by their experiences. Only the
Orthodox priest had a clear understanding of the tragedy of our human
condition together with an appreciation of the pain that death properly
brings. By facing and identifying with the sorrow the soldiers felt, he
able to help them grapple with the reality of our fallen humanity and
experience the healing and redemption Christ brings.
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